The Argentina Football Association (AFA) mentioned Thursday the nationwide staff will play two friendlies within the United States in March after China cancelled matches in a spat over a Lionel Messi no-show in Hong Kong. The world champions will play El Salvador in Philadelphia on March 22 and Nigeria in Los Angeles 4 days later, the AFA mentioned on its web site.
They had been meant to play Nigeria in Hangzhou and African champions Ivory Coast in Beijing, however these matches had been cancelled after Argentina captain Messi didn’t play in a match on February 4 — taken by China as a political snub.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is idolized by followers in China however stayed on the bench throughout Inter Miami’s 4-1 win in a pre-season tour match in opposition to a Hong Kong choose XI.
A close to 40,000 sellout crowd, having paid upwards of 1,000 Hong Kong {dollars} ($125) to see the 36-year-old famous person in motion, chanted “Refund!”, gave thumbs-down indicators and booed Messi and the staff’s co-owner David Beckham after the ultimate whistle.
Messi insists his absence was pressured by damage. The United States will host the Copa America in June and July, the place Argentina will search to retain the crown it took in Brazil in 2021.
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
